Welcome to the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Lethbridge. Our department offers a wide assortment of courses, which cover many of the world’s major religious traditions. An excellent beginning is our introductory course (RELS 1000) that will expose you to the history, beliefs, and practices of both Western and Eastern religions. You may then deepen your studies through semester-long courses on Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or East-Asian Religions. We frequently offer upper level courses on religious art, mysticism, religious philosophies such as Daoism, Yoga, and Tantra, and modern configurations of religion. Certain courses may explore themes such as myth and ritual, or focus on schools and movements, such as Zen Buddhism or Pentecostal Christianity. You may also find courses that inquire into the nature of religion and how to study it. There are many other intriguing offerings such as the relationship between religion and science fiction, or religion in film, so make sure to check the list of available courses every semester. We also organize and host an annual student conference, where you may be eligible to present your research in a venue that parallels more advanced professional gatherings.

Our faculty members have diverse interests and methodological approaches. Some focus on history and the study of ancient scriptures, while others examine contemporary religious practices. They are renowned nationally and internationally in their fields of expertise, and have written books and articles published by some of the best academic presses and scholarly journals. Their research areas include such fascinating topics as contemporary Christian creationism, girl evangelists in the 20th century, medieval Islamic mystics, Buddhism in the West, and the Hindu Great Goddess.

Since religion has played such a significant role in human history, and is still vitally important to so many in today’s world, the scholarly study of religion is naturally an invaluable component in any liberal education. We hope that you will find courses or a program of study within our offerings to satisfy your interests. Please contact us for more information if you cannot find answers to your questions on this website. Hillary Rodrigues, Chair, Department of Religious Studies

Research in Religious Studies Conference

Full details on the upcoming conference May 5-6, 2018 can be found here.

Planning is now underway for our 16th Annual Research in Religious Studies Conference so check back often for more details.

The conference provides undergraduate and graduate level students with the opportunity to present papers on the history, belief, practices, cultural contexts, and artistic or literary expressions of any religious tradition. Proposals for papers from any discipline within the academic fields of the humanities and social science are welcome.

The conference is open to students from any educational institute at any point in their educational career. Although we encourage PhD students to attend, we are particularly seeking papers by undergraduate and masters level students. Papers will be selected on basis of abstracts submitted.